Holland boss Van Gaal takes charge at United after the World Cup and has already put a red pen through several initial transfer targets – and given Woodward a fresh list.

Yet United have not announced a single signing despite a war chest of around £150million handed to Woodward by the American Glazer family, who own the club.

And that has set alarm bells ringing, with fans asking: “Where are the new players?”

Although Chelsea-bound Cesc Fabregas was not a player Van Gaal wanted there is a concern that, for the second summer transfer race running, United have been left in the stalls while rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have all done early business.